A year ago most Dolphins fans would have done back flips for Ryan Mallett.

Owner Steve Ross, who will speak to the South Florida media on Monday at the NFL’s annual owner’s meetings, has requested a franchise quarterback, and the front office figures haven’t delivered.

General Manager Jeff Ireland and coach Joe Philbin have vowed to the fans that they’d get a better starter than Matt Moore, and the best the Dolphins’ decision makers have delivered is David Garrard, a 10-year veteran with a solid resume.

The Dolphins fan base is angry, emotional, feels betrayed, and is on the verge of anarchy.

After turning Peyton Manning off (it was more South Florida’s style than the team), and not matching the money the Seattle Seahawks were willing to offer Matt Flynn, the Dolphins find themselves backed into a corner regarding this summer’s very public quarterback hunt.

All that’s left for the Dolphins to do is ride out Garrard or Moore in 2012, or invest a first-round pick into Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Problem is, there’s no guarantee Tannehill will be there when the Dolphins are on the clock with pick No. 8. And some in the NFL scouting community think selecting Tannehill in the top 10 would be reaching. Therefore, making him a top 5 pick could be a potential disaster.

The Dolphins have more information on Ryan Tannehill than any other NFL team. Is that good or bad?

While the former Texas A&M starter is indeed a quarterback worthy of a first-round pick, his 19 starts hints he’ll need time to develop.

That would mean Tannehill would possibly ride the bench, watching and learning from Garrard and Moore unless he outshines them in training camp and the exhibition season. To do that he’d need to quickly adjust to the speed of the NFL game, and master an NFL playbook in two months.

Piece of cake, right?

But that’s IF the Dolphins get him, which isn’t a given considering the Browns has the No. 4 pick, and need a quarterback to push, if not unseat Colt McCoy.

However, the odds Cleveland passes up on Alabama’s Trent Richardson and Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, two of the draft’s elite offensive talents, to take Tannehill aren’t good.

That is why it would be ideal for the Dolphins to calm down, and wait their turn.

The problem most VOCAL Dolphins fans have is that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to calm down, or be satisfied.

I’m estimating that more than 60% of Dolphins fans were so desperate for a quarterback taken in the first round they would have SETTLED for a bad one in Ryan Mallett last year.

MaLLeTT, the fifth best QB in the 2011 draft class, has numerous character and performance flaws. That’s why he fell to the third round in last year’s NFL draft. But Dolphins fans still wanted him bad.

Most would have thrown 2 L’s and 2 T’s a parade if Miami had selected him in the first or second round, despite the fact he has horrible footwork, which would have made him a disaster in a west coast offense.

Fast forward a year and because Manning batted his eye at Miami (to use the Dolphins), and because the Dolphins decided they didn’t want to overpay for Flynn (who Miami has more information on than any other team) the tone these days is that most Dolphins fans will be disappointed if Tannehill is the pick at No. 8.

Never mind that he’s a solid first round pick (trust me, I tried to prove that he’s not).

Never mind that Tannehill’s athleticism makes him suited for the west coast offense, or that he actually played in it under new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who coached him at Texas A&M.

Panic is setting in, and the masses are certain the Dolphins are settling.

Last night I watched an Aaron Rodgers SoundFX and it had me thinking about Tannehill because Rodgers had impressive footwork. It is Tannehill’s footwork, which made him a top rated college receiver, that has scouts buzzing about him.

It was his footwork that had me doing an about face when I prematurely declared he wasn’t a first-round worthy quarterback before watching five of his 19 college starts.

Tannehill’s footwork is the reason he’s the third best quarterback in the 2012 draft, and has a better draft grade than Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder, who were both taken early in the first-round of last year’s draft.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Rodgers would be the same player if he didn’t spend three years learning and developing under Brett Favre. He eventually had to cut his teeth as an NFL starter. But when Rodgers was put on the field in 2008 he was ready to play.

I can’t say the same would happen to Tannehill if he were rushed out there. How did that work out for Ponder and Gabbert, who each struggled as rookies?

That’s the problem with first-round quarterbacks. Teams are under too much pressure to play them early, and there’s no guarantee they’ll develop properly.

It took an offensive-minded coach like Jim Harbaugh to get Alex Smith, the first pick in the 2005 draft, to finally blossom in 2011. Six years later!

How about Vince Young and Matt Leinart, the two quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2006 draft? Neither shined bright enough when it was their time in the spotlight. Now both are barely hanging on as backups.

JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn were the two quarterbacks taken in the first-round of the 2007 draft. Russell is already out the league, and Quinn, whom Dolphins fans nearly had a heart attack over during the Ted Ginn fiasco, is barely employed.

The first-round quarterbacks in 2008 – Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco – are both solid, but far from finished products. Same can be said about Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman, the two taken in the first-round in 2009.

“which brings us back to build through the draft like the consistent franchises do. And it looks like that is what they want to do”.

Building through the draft is far more difficult when your GM has never drafted a single playmaker and has given no indication that he has any desire to do so, or that he could even identify one if he did…lol

I completely, 100% agree with that. I think Ireland is finally doing what he should have been doing, and that’s building through the draft. It starts with the QB. You’re not going to pick up a franchise QB from another team, and if you do, it will destroy your cap. Time to do what we need to do. Step up, and draft the franchise QB.

O Rob is fascinated that Ireland has hit on 1st RD picks, that’s the list he frequently posts as his argument. Unfortunately, there are 7 rounds in the draft, and the others have been far less kind to him.

“Building through the draft is far more difficult when your GM has never drafted a single playmaker and has given no indication that he has any desire to do so, or that he could even identify one if he did…lol”

Bat — liked being on the same team better.

But that GM has never had Philbin before. This ain’t like with Tony. We’ll see.

And an aside — if we were going to play this the Patriots way, we would identify which of the guys coming up for new contracts next year that we don’t want to re-sign and get value (think Seymour).

Who knows which, but we have two CBs coming up and just signed a fairly pricey third one……hmmmmm.

When a team is lacking any star players and has some huge holes to fill, it makes sense to sign a big name free agent and build around him. The risk is in not knowing how that player will respond to his new team and money. Dansby let us down with his lack of conditioning early last season, but overall has been a key addition to our defense. He’s been worth the money so far, IMO.

I think we are at a stage where overpaying for a big name FA doesn’t make sense. We need to focus on developing and keeping our own guys. We also need to keep bringing in 3-4 rookies that contribute and can fill holes when they are ready.

The only qb that can change your team overnight is PM. After we went after him and missed it was no way we paid big money for a FA qb. It would be stupid to pay franchise money for Smith or Flynn who may not beat out the guy you have. Ireland offered deals that would pay them what Garrard got and they said no (thank God) you do not overpay for these guys. Ireland saw them as backups and offered them backup money instead of paying franchise money for a guy that you would immediately be looking to replace in the draft with a rookie upgrade

It would not have taken franchise QB money to sign Flynn. I don’t get why every one thinks he got big money. He didn’t. He took a 3 year deal worth 26 million. However only 10 million guaranteed over 2 years. So if he didn’t work out in the first 2 years you were really not taking that big of a risk. If he works out then you sign him long term and restructure the remaining 16 million before the start of year 3. I just don’t get passing on that. It was not a big money contract.

Another, now 9 in a string from big O, blog starting with the same bs Peyton/Flynn/Ross blah blah.
If the “masses” are feeling as though we are settling, then Omar should take some credit. Stir that pot Omar.
It takes timing, luck, intelligence and creativity to get the best pieces in place.
I, for one, trust in Coach Joe! He is staying active even when Omar suggests free agency is all but over.
Bring on the draft.

Ryan acknowledged that Tebow will be the No. 2 quarterback, but emphasized that new offensive coordinatorTony Sparano will be creative in his use of the former University of Florida star and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner.

“He’s not just a quarterback … he’s a football player,” Ryan told reporters here for the annual league meetings, which included a few committee sessions on Sunday, but officially begin Monday morning. “He can help a lot of ways.”

“Let’s not hear about what guys can’t do. Let’s talk about what they can do. . . . I don’t see Tim as just holding a clipboard. He’ll have a role.”

There has been speculation that Tebow might also line up at tight end, H-back, fullback or as a receiver. Tebow is bigger and more physical than many quarterbacks and an effective runner. But a Jets’ team official told The Sports Xchange that he wants Tebow to be “more than just a curiosity piece.”

Tebow generated considerable criticism for his passing statistics and perceived inability to correct his mechanical deficiencies. During the regular season, Tebow completed 126 of 271 passes for 1,729 yards, with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions. But his completion percentage (46.5) and passer rating (72.9) were among the league’s lowest for a quarterback with more than five starts. His winning record aside, Denver management hardly embraced Tebow moving forward.

“We’re going to find a way to make the use of (Tebow’s) football talent. That’s why we got him,” Johnson said.

It is expected that Tebow will log plenty of snaps in the Wildcat offense. Although the popularity of formation has declined the past couple seasons, Sparano employed it extensively during his four seasons with theDolphins. The Sports Xchange suggested last week that Sparano might counsel with longtime league offensive coordinator Dan Henning, now retired, about the Wildcat offense.

Henning is widely credited for expanding the use of the formation during his Dolphins’ tenure

LMFAO sparano and hennings tired old wildcat comin at us twice a year?

Regarding Alex Smith, yes – it took 49ers six years to get the right coaches & coordinators hired. To blame Alex Smith is unwarranted. He is IMO true #1 talent, like Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, etc.

I look at Ross’ & Huizenga’s hiring of assistant coaches & coordinators, expecting too much from these coaches & coordinators who are with the Dolphins one year and then gone to blossom elsewhere. Why could the assistant coaches & coordinators not stay with the team 3-years or longer before moving on?

LOL … I’d like to be on the same side, but I draw the line at Ireland … Aside from the fact that his tenure here has been underwhelming, to say the least, he comes off as a smarmy, scheming liar ..Now normally I would gravitate to such a person, but not as a GM for my team …lol

32 draft picks in 4 years 24 playing in the NFL. Best of any GM.
Wake a top 5 OLB found in the CFL
Bess a top 5 slot wr undrafted

We are the team that drafted J Allen B Milner E Moore J Avery all in the first rd. Ireland is by far the best GM we have had in a loooong time. Poeple forget how we traded away picks for Feeley and traded Ogunleye for M Booker only for him to go back to the bears the next year Gave away multiple 1st rd picks for Ricky who left the team to smoke for 2 years

I only said Clam Chowder’s intangibles and leadership abilities were at least as good as KD’s and his coverage skills weren’t 4-5x worse (as the difference in contract $ might indicate)

I’m with the people who are a little disturbed by the fact that we got a look at what seemed to be some solid RG and FS options in free agency and don’t seem to be able to attract anyone. Filling a few holes with at least workable starters takes a lot of pressure off the draft and helps set the table for what positions are higher priorities.

That is exactly what you want at GM. teams that overspend every year and pay old washed up guys to big contracts are Washington and Oakland. Teams that cut guys after they tell them they are safe and cut guys that sacrifice for the team for cap space are NE and Pittsburgh. Troy Brown Ty Law Lawyer Milloy W McGinest D Branch R Seymour

“32 draft picks in 4 years 24 playing in the NFL. Best of any GM.
Wake a top 5 OLB found in the CFL
Bess a top 5 slot wr undrafted

We are the team that drafted J Allen B Milner E Moore J Avery all in the first rd. Ireland is by far the best GM we have had in a loooong time. Poeple forget how we traded away picks for Feeley and traded Ogunleye for M Booker only for him to go back to the bears the next year Gave away multiple 1st rd picks for Ricky who left the team to smoke for 2 years
”

Nice fact filled post Jay. Somebody is going to say you’re inducting him into the hall of fame or something, but I just see good evidence of a good talent evaluater which is something this team hasn’t had for quite a while.

Every FA and draft pick has a press conference the media just doesn’t cover it for lesser players. I was at my friends press conference when he signed in Detroit and it was him the coach and the GM a guy with a camera and his family and friends

Jay says:
March 26, 2012 at 11:40 am
We didn’t want Flynn because he sucks. He has played twice and his OC didn’t want him
________________________________________________________

Then we shouldn’t have brought him for an interview, waste everyone’s time while raising fan expectation in what has been a highly charged and publicized QB search. Something tells me that it is not accurate that Philbin didn’t want him. But we are likely to really know what transpired.

Thank you so much for the comment. I don’t want to discuss it ad nauseeum, but for those here who also wonder, unfortunately, no. My mom isn’t doing very well at all. The treatements have led to some serious side effects including congestive heart failure and as of right now have been stopped. I don’t know what’s next tbh, but I’m just trying to support her as best as possible no matter what it is.

LOL ..I am all in with Philbin. I think he is the right man for the job. That is why I believe Ireland should have been carted out with the rest of the Tuna trash. Philbin should have been able to start fresh with a GM that shared his vision, not be stuck with a Parcells leftover with a spotty track record….IMO

we didn’t take flynn because we have flynn in moore, why waste the money? i bet flynn will be very good, at this time i doubt ireland looked at flynn as a major upgrade and felt he had other areas to spend that money on.

If Tannehill and Michael Floyd are both available at #8, who should the Dolphins pick? Or should the draft a top rated Defensive End and pick a QB in the 2nd and WR in the 3rd?

My thought is this….Tannehill is getting a lot of press, but QBs like Kirk Cousins and others are not much different than him, so Tannehill at #8 is reaching.

Michael Floyd is going to be great in the NFL and the talent level at WR definitely drops after him. The Dolphins also don’t have a #1 WR, but they do have Matt Moore as QB.

The Dolphins also need pass rushers.

In my book, I take Michael Floyd (or Blackmon is by some miracle he drops to us), get Kirk Cousins or someone else in the 2nd, and get the pass rush in the 3rd).

Bottom line, with the Marshall trade, the WR position is very important to address. As much as we need a QB, you have to consider the talent difference with what they can get at #8.

WR and DE are definitly going to be better values at #8 than Tannehill. WRs of Floyd’s level are hard to find. It will be easier to find a gem at DE in the middle of the draft than a WR of Floyd’s level.

Read the post I have on Tannehill above. He threw more int’s than interceptions in 5 out of his last 14 games; all losses. He beat 2 winning teams in 2011; SMU which isn’t exactly a powerhouse and Baylor.

Sorry to hear about your mom. I sympathize. I have had a difficult course with my mom over the last couple of years including a heart attack and major stroke. I know what you are going thru. Hang in there.

we were in a playoff race in those years mike, but henne started throwing to the wrong colored jerseys! that’s the reason for the poor records,

true ireland missed big on henne and you just don’t correct that overnight.

i blame ireland for the record in that regard but i also realize that the draft is a crapshoot and the best of GMs could’ve made that mistake.

looking at the overall picture though i see ireland as a very good GM, all he lacks is a top 10 passer rating and that may already be fixed! with a whole draft in front of us and 4 top 80 picks at his disposal i’m drinking the kool-aide!

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More